Without a doubt, sleeping well is absolutely essential if you are ever to achieve optimal health and wellness. The findings from the poll take into account recent research that found how the lack of sleep can impair your memory and affect a woman's fertility.

I sleep well every night; I fall asleep within minutes and I wake up and jump out of bed with energy and enthusiasm to start the day. I believe this is in large part due to the 20 miles of running per week that I have done for the last 37 years. So I was surprised to find out that 75 percent of adults (according to the poll) struggle with sleep problems, prohibiting them from getting a full night's sleep.

If you fall into this category, I suggest reading my Guide to a Good Night's Sleep. Whether you are not able to fall asleep, wake up too often, or don't feel well rested when you wake up in the morning, my guidelines will provide you with various useful techniques to improve these problems. Some of my recommendations include:

• Listen to white noise or relaxation CDs. Some people find the sound of white noise or nature sounds, such as the ocean or forest, to be soothing for sleep. An excellent relaxation/meditation option to listen to before bed is the Insight audio CD. I have been very impressed with the effectiveness of this tool. It is very uncommon where this fails to work for the patients I ask to try it, and I am continuously amazed at how effective this is for the patients in our clinic.

• Avoid bedtime snacks, particularly grains and sugars, which will raise your blood sugar and inhibit your sleep.

• Read inspirational spiritual literature to help you to relax.

• Turn off the TV or, better yet, remove the TV from your bedroom if it is in there.

• Sleep in complete darkness or as close to it as possible. If there is even the tiniest bit of light in the room it can disrupt your circadian rhythm and your pineal gland's production of melatonin and serotonin. And please, whatever you do, keep the light off when you go to the bathroom at night. As soon as you turn on that light you will (for that night) immediately cease all production of the important sleep aid melatonin.

• Make certain you exercise regularly. Exercising for at least 30 minutes everyday can help you fall asleep. However, don't exercise too close to bedtime or it may keep you awake. Studies show exercising in the morning is the best if you can do it. As I said above, I really believe it is one of the primary reasons why I hardly ever have sleep problems. I suspect it helps address the underlying anxieties that tend to impair many people's sleep.

Wake up With the Rising of the Sun!

Finally, please understand that the way you wake up in the morning is just as important as making sure you get enough sleep at night. The safest and most effective way to wake up in the morning, feeling refreshed and energized, is by the rising of the sun.

With that, I am excited to present The Sun Alarm™ SA-2002, which provides an ideal way to wake up each morning if you can't wake up with the real sun. I use this clock to wake up each morning--it's not a typical alarm clock that "startles" you out of sleep, a very unhealthy way to start any day.

Combining the features of a traditional alarm clock (digital display, AM/FM radio, beeper, snooze button, etc.) with a special built-in light that gradually increases in intensity, this amazing clock simulates a natural sunrise. It also includes a sunset feature where the light fades to darkness over time, making it ideal for anyone who has trouble falling asleep.

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